A Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) of the Indian Army was abducted from his home in Manipur's Thoubal district on Friday, reported India Today NE, citing officials.

Some people barged into JCO Konsam Kheda Singh's house at Charangpat Mamang Leikai at around 9 am and abducted him. The unidentified assailants put Kheda Singh inside a vehicle and fled from the spot.

According to the officials, initial reports suggest Kheda Singh's abductors wished to extort money from him as his family had received such threats in the past.

A search operation has been launched to rescue JCO Kheda Singh and all vehicles on National Highway 102 are being checked.

This comes just days after a Manipur Police officer was abducted from his home on February 27. Around 200 gunmen stormed his home in Imphal West district and abducted the Additional Superintendent of Police, Moirangthem Amit Singh.

Amit Singh's abduction was allegedly carried out by an armed group identified as the Meitei vigilante group Arambai Tenggol.

The abductions are among the incidents of unrest that have been reported in Manipur, which has witnessed ethnic violence between the Meitei and Kuki communities since May 3 last year.

Source: India Today